Green Party launches major climate protection plan

The
Green Party has today announced a suite of major election
policies to transition New Zealand to carbon neutrality by
2050, including a charge on carbon that will be returned to
all households as a Climate Tax Cut on the first $2000 of
income, leaving Kiwi families better off.

The components
of the Green Party climate protection plan are:

1. A goal
of net carbon neutrality by 2050

2. The
establishment of an independent Climate Commission to
provide expert and independent advice to the government on:
carbon prices, carbon budgets, and complementary measures to
achieve carbon neutrality by 2050

3. The phasing
out of the failed Emissions Trading Scheme and an initial
price on carbon of: $25 per tonne on CO2 equivalent
emissions for all sectors except agriculture. Dairy
emissions will pay $12.50 per tonne. Forestry will be
credited at $12.50 per tonne

4. The recycling of
all revenue raised from a carbon charge back to families and
businesses through a $2000 income tax-free band and a one
percent company tax cut. The Climate Tax Cut will leave
households will be better off

5. A suite of
complementary measures to support the rapid transition to a
carbon neutral economy

“The Green Party is the only
political party offering a win-win plan to protect the
climate and benefit households,” said Green Party
Co-leader Dr Russel Norman, who made the announcement during
a speech at the Party’s election year AGM
today.

“Climate change is the most challenging issue of
our time. How we respond to it will define the kind of
future our children inherit.

“The Green Party’s plan
will future-proof our economy and put New Zealand firmly
back in the global green race, all while leaving households
better off.

“Green leadership will ensure all New
Zealanders benefit from action to protect the
climate.”

The Green Party plan includes a simple and
transparent tax on pollution, the revenue from which will
all go back to New Zealand households and businesses in the
form of a Climate Tax Cut.

“We can reduce our emissions
without hurting household budgets. Households will be on
average $319 better off every year under the Green Party
policy,” said Dr Norman.

“National’s failed
emissions trading scheme (ETS) has burdened households with
unfair costs, driven up emissions and allowed businesses to
profit from pollution. The ETS is a lose-lose-lose
rort.

“We will not allow households to continue
shouldering the cost of pollution, as they currently do
under the failed ETS. Polluters should pay for the damage
they do, not households.

“We are determined to preserve
our economy as we transition to a low carbon future. That is
why we have also built a significant tax cut for businesses
into our plan.

“We will ensure ordinary Kiwis and New
Zealand businesses benefit from the transition to a cleaner,
smarter economy.

“Successive Governments’ weak climate
policies have driven up New Zealand’s emissions, locked in
high carbon investment, and made New Zealand part of the
global climate problem. The Green Party will ensure New
Zealand is part of the solution,” said Dr Norman.

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